family gathering shoot (repost)

M&M wrote:
I also have a nice
YashicaMat 6x6 TLR....but I'll probably leave it at home as I don't think
16x20s will be made Maybe I'll consider this though as I can use 400
speed and get grainless 8x10s.



You can use NPZ800 and get great 8X10's. People seem to relax around a TLR
vs a SLR 35mm, don't know why but they do. If you can get back far enough,
the TLR with 800asa on a tripod would do the group shot with avalible
light. Forget the tripod for anything other than group shots.

Another thing to try is use the TLR for color and put some Tmax or delta
3200 and use a fast prime with no flash on the 35mm.. You'll get some great
candids that way. After a couple of flash pops, people start getting
anoyed.

Just some things to think about.

--

Stacey

I've been asked to shoot pictures for a family gathering (90th b-day of
grandma). Of course I said that I don't know what I'm doing and would be
best served by a pro.....however its either me or Uncle JimBob using his
Vivitar P&S 35mm camera with a wimpy on-camera flash and plastic lens

Good thing is it is 45 days away so I can potentially prepare a little
bit.
I know this is a common topic but hoping for some personalized input...

Probably indoors...outdoors if it is warm enough for grandma and not too
harsh of lighting (or if I can find shade). Number of people will
vary...possibly up to 20 for the big group shot.

I have a Minolta X-700, prime lenses from 24mm to 200mm, and a shoe-mount
Sunpak TTL-dedicated flash (guide number 120). I'm thinking Kodak 400NC
for
indoors and will bring 160NC if outdoors is an option. I also have a nice
YashicaMat 6x6 TLR....but I'll probably leave it at home as I don't think
16x20s will be made Maybe I'll consider this though as I can use 400
speed and get grainless 8x10s.

I think the yashica would be perfect for the job of the group shot. even
the 8x10s will look crisp and saturated compared with the 35mm.


I have a single tripod, and a Gossen Digiflash (reflected, incident, and
flash meter). I plan on ordering a Minolta dedicated flash cable, and
probably a bracket, to get the flash off-camera.

I'd consider spending some money on some little things that can help. The
Lumiquest Softbox grabbed my eye. Or I can get a cheap 45" white umbrella
and a light stand. But this would probably only help for the 1-4 person
shots. I already own a set of circular reflectors that I've never used
(someone needs to hold them!).

those little softbounce things don't really function well with group shots.
making a 2 inch light source into a 4 inch or six inch one doesn't make that
much difference when the subject is 20 feet way.

however getting a flash on a stand up and away will give the lighting a cool
dimentionality, the images will pop a bit right off the page, though it will
help a lot if you also have a flash on the camera to give you a key and
fill.

if you do outdoors, as long as the sun ain't coming straight down you can
use the flash as a fill and the sun as a key. or shoot in open shade and
use the flash as a key.

indoor use the tripod and a slow shutter speed to pick up some of the
ambient light on the background.

With my flash meter, I could potentially buy something like a Vivitar 283
(with variable power) and attempt a dual-flash setup....

an excellent idea.

I think the hardest shot would be an indoor group as the flash lighting
would be potentially uneven if it is the main source of light.


unless you are really off, a key and fill will work great even with a little
unevenness, don't forget, they are expecting uncle joe with the p&s...
wedding photogs have been doing this for years, one advantage we have, the
important people tend to be in the middle, bride groom, parents etc, and the
folks 20 feet on either side are 'just' the second cousins and they way are
are dressed for their families wedding you might as well loose them in the
fall off.

this reply is echoed to the z-prophoto mailing list at yahoogroups.com

"M&M" wrote in message

I've been asked to shoot pictures for a family gathering (90th b-day of
grandma). Of course I said that I don't know what I'm doing and would be
best served by a pro.....however its either me or Uncle JimBob using his
Vivitar P&S 35mm camera with a wimpy on-camera flash and plastic lens

I would prefer to do this outdoors in the shade using the TLR on a tripod
flash. Set up grandma in a chair on the centre and form the family groups
around her, starting with the smallest group and working up to the biggest.
Get another family member to help with organising people.

However, as you say, it may be that you have no choice but to shoot indoors.
In which case I would fall back to "plan B" i.e. shoot indoors using your
X700 and TTL flash. I'd use a tripod and slow exposures (1/30, 1/15s) to
maximise the effect of ambient light. Use a 35mm prime lens if you have
one -- I don't like using anything wider for group shots because of
distortion, and also most flash guns will have problems covering the angle
of a 28mm lens without fall-off problems.

A low white ceiling will allow you to bounce the flash off it for a more
naturalistic lighting effect, if so, it may be worth using a smaller low
power direct flash to fill in eyesocket shadows.

See this link http://www.uscoles.com/bf283day.html for some useful advice
about bounce flash.

The key thing is to stake out the venue and start visualising how you are
going to do it. If possible take some test shots.

You can also consider a composite final print